That’s why MomsRising members will be headed to Raleigh on May 16th to mark the first day of the legislative session with thousands of teachers, parents, and students at the March for Students and Rally for Respect. It’s time to stand up for the schools our students deserve.

This massive underfunding of NC’s schools is not inevitable. It’s a choice. Despite an economic recovery following the 2008 recession, NC state lawmakers have refused to reinvest in our schools at the levels we need. Enough is enough.

During the recession, most states including ours cut spending for schools to make up for budget shortfalls. But since then, many other states have brought funding back up or close to where they were a decade ago. That’s not the case in North Carolina. According to a report released in December by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, our state spends 8 percent less per student than it did before the Recession. Instead of reinvesting in our schools and our students, North Carolina is one of a handful of states that have recently cut the state income and corporate income tax with more potential cuts on the horizon.

11:00 am-Enter Legislative Bldg. and start assembling on 3rd Floor. This may take a little longer than usual with new metal detectors and fewer entries.

12:00 pm-General Assembly convenes. We would love to have families in the gallery if possible.

1:00 pm-Time to make appointments with your local representative and on your own for lunch.

(If you have kids with you who need a break, you could take time between the march and the rally to eat a picnic lunch you bring or visit one of the museums close by).

3:00 pm-Start assembling on Bicentennial Plaza across from the Legislative Building for Rally for Respect.

3:30 pm-Rally for Respect begins.

4:30 pm-Rally concludes and participants can start making their way back to NCAE Headquarters by foot or by using the R-Line (bus), which picks up at Jones and Wilmington and drops off near NCAE at the Convention Center. Alternatively, you could park near the General Assembly in the morning so you'll be there when you're done.

Time and again we’ve seen that real change only happens when people step out of their comfort zones and demand better. Our state’s teachers are leading the way, and it’s critical that they know that parents have their backs.

For our children. For our teachers. For our schools. It’s personal, and we are in this together.

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